On this last day of Tombstone’s famous Helldorado Days, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the Tombstone Vigilantes were engaged in a street skit involving animated gunfights in the 400 block of Allen Street. During the skit, actors Tom Carter and Ken Curtis were faced off against each other and when Carter fired his firearm, Curtis fell to the ground after being struck by a live round.
The vigilantes immediately stopped the show and Carter was relieved of his weapon. During inspection of his weapon, it was discovered that there was one live round in the cylinder with five expended casings indicating the gun had held six live rounds prior to the skit. It was later learned that at least two of the live rounds struck businesses located at the East end of Allen Street, approximately 680 feet from the skit, with one bullet striking a woman standing in front of the Bird Cage Theater identified as Debbie Mitchell and additional bullet fragments striking nearby buildings.
Curtis was initially treated by Tombstone first responders and ultimately flown to University Medical Center for trauma care where he is undergoing surgery at this time to remove the bullet.
Mayor Escapule took immediate action and advised the Tombstone Vigilante group to cease any further gunfight skits until it can be determined all weapons are safely loaded with blank ammunition as required. This incident is an isolated event which has no precedence in this area.
According to the Cochise County Sheriff’s office, Tombstone takes pride in the safety and security of its townspeople and tourists alike and the citizens of Tombstone can be assured that stringent safety protocol will be enforced prior to allowing any further gunfight skits on Allen Street.
